Stop the Medication Madness

Stop the Medication Madness

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of articles explaining how to get healthy. But have you
ever stopped and wondered about why certain diets, exercise regimes and medications work?

Science gives great insight on not only what works and what doesn’t but also why. Let’s say you eat vegetables because they’re good for you. You might be surprised to learn that some are better than others, or that the method of cooking them makes a big difference. Fitness is just as complex. What kind of exercise, for how long for the best results?

Medication isn’t one size fits all. Drug­drug interactions are widely recognized as a major cause
of adverse reactions. Researchers studying how people process medications and nutrients have proven that there are two important types of interactions also exist: drug­-gene interactions and drug drug gene interactions. A drug gene interaction occurs when a patient’s genetic type ( slow metabolizer ) affects that patient’s ability to clear a drug.

To simplify that, people’s bodies don’t metabolize at the same rate, so understand your
metabolism and use the right supplement/medication at the right dose.

Ideally, consuming healthy balanced diet is the best way to meet one’s recommended nutritional needs. But individuals who are at risk for nutritional deficiencies or who have increased metabolic demands should use dietary supplements to prevent symptoms from worsening. Let’s take vitamin B6; individuals with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) have low vitamin B6 concentrations, and these low concentrations are due to the inflammation caused by (RA),
which in turn increase the inflammation associated with the disease. Furthermore, low vitamin
B6 and B12 can be associated with folate deficiency.

For generations, we’ve all taken the same drugs and nutritional supplements at the same
dosage for our various ailments, but our genes have a big influence on the effect that
medication or supplement has on our body. Often, an effective drug response is found in a few patients treated, while most benefit little or not at all. Much could be gained if we could select the optimal drug for the individual patient before treatment begins.

There are four main isoforms, or families of mixed­function oxidases known as cytochrome p 450 ( CYP450 ) involved in xenobiotic, or drug metabolism.
The CYP2E family contains only one enzyme, CYP2E1 It is also responsible for the breakdown
of many low molecular weight toxins and carcinogens, many of which are used in manufacturing and dry cleaning industry, including benzene, styrene, acetone, vinyl chloride and N­nitrosamines. Some of these substances are pro carcinogens which are activated by
CYP2E1. There are gender differences in the expression of the enzyme, obesity and fasting
may also affect its activity . This may provide a putative explanation for obesity related cancers. There is also mounting evidence that CYP2E1 may be a key factor in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease . The exact role of CYP2E1 is unclear, although the enzyme is induced
by both alcohol and nicotine , and may explain the higher ethanol elimination rates among
smokers.

Understanding various genes activities will lead to predictable patient outcomes when evaluated with regards to environmental exposures, medical history, family background, and other factors. There are many community resources available to assist with medication therapy, for no or a small fee you can consult with a qualified healthcare professional to enable you and your healthcare team choose the right medication and the right dose that increases the likelihood of achieving the desired therapeutic effect and reducing the risk of unintended adverse drug reactions.

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Ramzy Haddad has more than 20 years experience as a healthcare professional.
Throughout his career Ramzy focused on assisting people manage their health and
afford their medications using cutting edge technology.

At WiXHealth, he continues to build his practice on the fundamental belief that providing
people with accurate predictions about their health and precise knowledge supports
better decision making for improved health.

Ramzy holds several certificates in health including Medication Therapy Management,
Therapeutics, Community based Immunization delivery, and he is a Board certified
ambulatory care pharmacist. Ramzy has special interest in personalized medicine and
predictive analytics.